John l



NJETERS, FHoTo-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. C.

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.JOHN L. enana, or NEW YORK, N;

u Letters Patent No. 113,202. datedMarch 28. 1871.

PURPOSES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent: and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern:

*ne it known that I, JOHN nrcan, ofthe @ay and county of NewYork, in the State of' New York, A

have invented a new and useful lneans'ot' Scene-Shifting for Theatrical and Analogous Purposes; and -I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention is intended to accumulate power in theinterval between the .movement ofthe scenes, and to hold it storedupiin a condition ready for immediate application. It provides for moving the vscenes rapidly and noiselessly, and the means are under perfect control. i It provides for both thepresentation and removal of the scenes.

I will rst describe what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and will afterward designate the points which I believe to be new.

rlhe accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my entire apparatus.

Figure 2 is a planview of the same.

The remaining figures represent some of the irnportant details on a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cylinder.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the same.

Figure 5 is an end view showingthe open end of the cylinder.

Figure 6 is a view of the other end.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

I have represented the invention as applied where the scenes are elevated by raising them directly up through the stage, and are removed by lowering them again.

It should be understood that these stiles may be.

suitably connected, and sceuery'may be painted on canvas or other suitable mattei', and nailed or otherwise fixed on 'the frame-work.

The bottom stile is represented by be, and is trussed to form a frame suiiiciently strong to allow the entire scene to be held up by sufcient force at the'bottom of the truss-work and allow the connections to be below the stage when thescene is in piace.

The nprights Ig b are guided in T-shaped grooves in xed upright timbers or frames M. A stout cord. l

or small rope extendsupward from the bottom of the truss-work, and passes over the. pulley D, thence extends downward, `and is fastened on a large wheel, E,

ered.

Wheel Eis keyed on a shaft, El, on which is also iixed a small pinion, E2.- This shaft and its pinion are supported on suitable bearings, and are revolved by the action of the pistonH, which plays in the fixed cylinder I.

G is a rack, meshing into the pinion E2. It is firmly fixed to the piston H, and is held down by the anti-friction roller J, so that as the piston moves out and back the wheel E is revolved and thescene is raised or lowered.

I employ hydraulic pressure to work this piston. I accumulate a supply of water bythe force oi' the pressure in the aqneduct mains in the street, or hy pump, or otherwise, in a large cylinder, N, which carries the large piston n. This latter carries a frame, nl, which is capable of being loaded `with variable weights, 11,2 n2.

A pipe, K, connects the base of this reservoir cylinder N with the back end of the working cylinder I. This pipe K conveys the water steadily and rapidly to eect the upright movement of the scene. An-` other pipe, L, discharges the water to lower the scene.

I control the action of the water by a cock, P, arranged' as represented at the junction ot' the pipes K and L. The arm 11,- which controls the cock P, is connected to a rod, It, which has two adjustable stops R1 R2, and Vwhich runs through an arm, 71., fixed on the rack G, as represented.

When the'piston has traversed outward, or to the left, to a sliicient extent to properly raise the scene B, the arm 7i. strikes the stop R1, and moves the rod Rhand'tnrns the cock P suciently to close the pas The apparatus remains in thisposiition as long as the scene may be required to be presented to the audience.

When it is desired to lower the scene the attendant seizes the rod It and moves it still further to the left; this action turns the-cock P still further than before, and opens the communication from the interior of the cylinder I, through the pipe L, to the sewer or other suitable waste-passage.

The water in the cylinder I escapes steadily and rapidly, and the weight of the scene B, andthe weights attached to aid it, it' necessary, by their force moves the piston H inward, and the scene is steadily lowered.

When it issnliciently'lowered the arm hy strikes by turning which the scene B can be raised or lowing apparatus. I' propose t or other number ot' wheels side by side thereon, withA suitable clutches for connecting vthem at pleasure.4

the stop R?, and moves the rod until the cock P is again turned back to the position to close all the pas- Vlengthen the shaf'tE, and mount four This may carry separate scene-shifting,r slides.`

I can, instead oi'attaching the scene directly to the stiles b 17,'monnt the scene on alseparate frame, not represented, and connect and disconnect such frame by hooks or other readily-operated devices;

I can vary the force of my water by increasing or diminishing the weightsn. AI can vary the point at which'the presentation of the 'scene is arrested by adjusting the'stop R1, and can,va.1y-the point at ,which thelowering is arrested by shifting the stop R2. I

" can, if preferred, in transformations and the like, 4thereby arrest the scenes and readily adj ust situations, so that each shall be half-presented, or three-quarters presented,when desired. Y

The advantages of a portion of my invention may be realized by introducing the watei to'the 'cylinder I from an elevated tank instead of the loaded cylinder N fn; but this' involvesv serious annoyance in case of leakage, tires, or the like, and I much prefer .the entire combination as represented.

I esteem the shortness of the connecting-pipe K of considerable consequence, because it is important that the water shall move rapidly and kfreely into the cylinder I'when the presentation of the scene is called for. The vfriction of vrapidly-moving water in long pipes occasions a serious loss of eect.

I can substitute a properly-formedslide-valve, working on a properly-constructed seat, in place of the cock P, and it may be operated by the same means, as above provided, for moving the 'plug of the cock. But I prefer the cock-chamber labout as represented-in g. 4, and operated by partiallyturning, as described.

I claim as new and as my invention-- scene-shiftingmechanism, and with means for admitting anddischargng'water to shift the scenes, substantially as herein specified.

2. The` reservoir N,in combination with scene-shifting mechanism, for the purpose of supplying large quantities of water rapidly, as specified.

scene-shifting mechanismG H I, and ltheir connections, the reservoir cylinder N, pistonn, connected frame nl, and variable load n, arranged as herein speci' fied.l 4. The adjustable stops R1-R,and their connections, in combination with the hydraulic scene-shifting means G H I, and with the cock I or its equivalent',- for automatically stopping the motion, substantially as herein set'i'orth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.'vv

, JOHN L. PEAKE. Witnesses;

WM. CI Der, C. O. LIvINGs. y

1.V The 'piston and cylinder-,Min combination with 43. In combination with theatricalv scenery and the 

